Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB) Metabolic/Inflammatory/Tumors Practice Exam

What complication may arise from Paget's disease due to bone deformities in the skull?

1. Hearing loss

2. Hyperkinetic gait

3. Increased gastric motility

4. Femoral neck deformity

The correct answer is: Hearing loss

Hearing loss is a recognized complication that can arise from Paget's disease, particularly due to the deformities that may develop within the skull. Paget's disease causes abnormal and excessive bone remodeling, leading to weakened and deformed bones. In the skull, this can result in changes to the shape and structure of the cranial base, potentially affecting the inner ear. The inner ear is crucial for both hearing and balance; thus, when the bone surrounding these structures becomes distorted or excessively thickened, it can interfere with their normal function. This disruption may lead to conductive hearing loss or even sensorineural hearing loss, depending on the extent and location of the changes. Other options presented might be associated with different conditions or forms of bone deformities but do not directly relate to the complications specifically tied to Paget's disease of the skull. For instance, a hyperkinetic gait involves movement disorders often related to neurological conditions, while increased gastric motility is not a recognized complication of Paget's disease. Femoral neck deformities may occur in disorders affecting the hips but are not directly related to skull changes seen in Paget's disease.